Free flu shot clinic aims at stopping spread of virus on the Central Coast

Health officials said flu season started earlier than usual on the Central Coast and it’s pretty serious. They recommend everyone six months and older get vaccinated.

“I teach third grade and I have a lot of students come in with colds, sore throat,” said Daneille Gonzales of Salinas. “I don’t want to get that.”

A long line wrapped around the parking lot of the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital with locals who said they want to protect themselves from the flu.

“We live in such close quarters that if one person gets it, the whole family gets it,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, who got the flu shot. “So it’s best to be preventive and get the flu shot, to be able to create a healthy environment for everyone.”

This is the third time SVMHS has hosted the free community flu clinic. It comes as hospitals across the Central Coast are seeing widespread increase in flu activity. Earlier this month, one person under the age of 65 died.

“It affects the lungs and they have airway issues and don’t get good oxygenation,” said Christie Gonder, Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, Registered and Chief Nurse. “Then it causes other system failures.”

According to the California Department of Public Health, flu related complications have taken the lives of three people in the state. The virus kills 24,000 people in the U.S. each year, urging the need for flu shot vaccinations.

“They make it really easy, really accommodating,” said Ryan Wells of Seaside. “You come here and sit down and its over before you know it.”

“Quick, everybody’s nice, makes you feel comfortable,” said D McCuen from Monterey.

SVMHS said they’ve had 98 positive flu cases in December and 74 cases in the first 11 days of January.

The Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula has seen more than 70 hospitalized patients with the flu.

Hazel Hawkins Memorial has had 23 positive cases.

“Viruses become virulent over time,” said Gonder. “Sometimes you get a more virulent year and they’re more contagious and more serious. So we’re just having a big year this year.”

The free community flu clinic also offered Tdap vaccinations.

Santa Cruz County is also seeing an uptick in flu cases.